Archive for June 22, 2013

Boeing’s new 747-8 lands in Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport

 

Lufthansa’s 747-8 flight to Israel was an  exhibition flight to promote the new plane, not a regular commercial flight.

By NATHAN WISE

 

 

 

Boeing’s new 747-8, the longest commercial passenger airplane in the world, landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Tuesday for the first time. The Lufthansa airliner was greeted by a festive champagne and hors d’oevres reception attended by Ben-Gurion Airport officials, Lufthansa senior staff, travel industry professionals, the media and airplane enthusiasts.
The Boeing 747-8 airliner after it landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Tuesday.

The Boeing 747-8 airliner after it landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Tuesday. – Photo: Yochai Mossi- Courtesy Lufthansa

Lufthansa is the launch customer of the new Boeing “Queen of the Skies,” which is a new generation of the landmark 747-400 that has enhanced features such as improved fuel efficiency, reduced noise and a higher number of business-class seats.

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Gaza’s Christians Concerned as Hamas Bans Co-Ed Schools

Another strict Islamic sharia law was passed banning co-ed schools in Gaza leaves Christians worrisome that their schools are in danger of closure.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

A new law passed by the Hamas government in Gaza banning co-ed schools has left many Christians fearful that their schools are in danger of closure, according to the Beirut-based Al-Akhbar daily.

The new law, which mandates gender segregation in all schools, also bans men from teaching at girls’ schools. The law will likely force Christian educational institutions to close their doors to Muslim and Christian students alike, reported the newspaper.

Samer Badra, financial director of the Patriarchate Schools in Gaza, told Al-Akhbar, “Implementing the new education law will force Gaza’s Christian institutions to build new facilities and hire new employees to comply with the articles. Continue Reading »

Lapid calls for ‘honest divorce’ from Palestinians but Bennett urges ‘coexistence’

Economy and Trade Minister Bennett suggests gov’t give Area C Palestinians Israeli citizenship.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
 

 

Finance Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) came out in support of a two-state solution, while his coalition partner Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) rejected it completely and urged for “coexistence” between Israelis and Palestinians, in interviews they gave separately to the Washington Post this week.

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Bayit Yehudi head Naftali Bennett at Knesset swear in, Feb 5, 2013.

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Bayit Yehudi head Naftali Bennett at Knesset swear in, Feb 5, 2013. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

Dubbing the two-state solution an “honest divorce” between Israel and the Palestinians, Lapid vowed to “push for this as hard as [he] can.”

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Israeli Youth overcomes Tourette’s to become IAF fighter pilot

R.’s parents beam with pride after son overcame disability to successfully complete the IAF’s most prestigious course.

By Goel Beno

As a child R. suffered from Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations; yet next week he is set to become a fighter pilot after having passed one of the most excruciatingly demanding preparatory courses the IDF has on offer.

Graduation ceremony of IAF fighter pilots – Photo: Herzl Yoseph

R., 22 today, has suffered from behavioral and health problems in primary school, including hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, angry outbursts and various allergic reactions. His parents say they tried various alternative medicines until they stumbled on a support group for parents of Tourette sufferers, where they were given various advices regarding nutrition, which changed R’s health dramatically. Continue Reading »

Carter Seeks Weakened Sanctions on Terror Groups

Ex-Peanut Farmer Jimmy Carter is spearheading an effort to convince the US gov’t to weaken sanctions on terrorist groups.

By Rina Tzvi

 

Former President Jimmy Carter is spearheading an effort to convince the United States to weaken sanctions on terrorist groups, The Hill reported.

Former President Jimmy Carter - Photo by AP

Former President Jimmy Carter – Photo: by AP

Carter and other foreign policy experts sent a petition to Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday, asking him to exempt peace groups from policies that make it a crime to offer negotiation training and humanitarian law classes to terror groups.

“The Secretary of State can, and should, exempt peacebuilding activities from this counterproductive application of the law,” says the petition, initiated by The Charity and Security Network, which, according to its website claims “to protect civil society’s ability to carry out peacebuilding projects, humanitarian aid, and development work effectively and in a manner consistent with human rights principles and democratic values.” Continue Reading »

Knesset passes bill disallowing Rabbis from taking fee for weddings

 

Local rabbis have been allowed to charge extra fees even though marriages are listed among their existing duties as regional rabbis.

Bill still pending 3 additional Knesset readings before final approval, with 61 MKs voting in favor in the preliminary reading.

By Israel Hayom Staff

A current bill, approved in its preliminary reading on Wednesday, is aiming to prevent local rabbis from accepting payment or any other compensation for officiating the marriage ceremonies of couples who live within their area of jurisdiction.

The bill was submitted by Habayit Hayehudi MKs Shuli Mualem and Moti Yogev and was approved in the Knesset by a majority of 61 MKs. Continue Reading »

US Congressmen respond to EU’s failure to blacklist Hezbollah

 

US Congressman from NY says inaction is emboldening terror organization.

By MICHAEL WILNER, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

 

 

WASHINGTON — After developments on Wednesday set back efforts to convince the European Union to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, members of Congress are expressing their disappointment and calling for a renewed push against reluctant EU member states.

Hezbollah head Nasrallah speaks at Beirut protest

Hezbollah head Nasrallah speaks at Beirut protest – Photo: REUTERS

Great Britain had been leading the initiative, but Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic continue to harbor reservations, Reuters reported, fearful that the listing would result in terrorist reprisals in Europe and further upheaval in the Middle East.

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Jew who Yelled Allahu Akbar Shot & killed at Western Wall

A Jewish man has been killed this morning at the Western Wall complex in a shooting after yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’ and then making suspicious movement.

By Maayana Miskin & Ernie Singer

 

A civilian guard shot a Jewish man at the Kotel (Western Wall) on Friday morning.

Paramedics attempted to revive the man for 20 minutes, but were ultimately forced to declare his death.

The incident took place in the public bathrooms at the site. No others were injured in the incident.

The guard reported that the man shouted, “Allahu Akbar,” and pulled an unidentified object from his pocket. “Allahu Akbar,” literally “G-d is great,” in Arabic, is often shouted by terrorists immediately before an attack. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu: Natural Gas exports to yield $60 billion in revenue over 20 years

 

Israel stands to become one of the world’s top-25 gas exporters. PM Netanyahu says Israel will export 40% of its natural gas, keeping 60% for domestic use.

Opposition Leader Yachimovich: Bill is a shameful capitulation to the tycoons, a major blow to Israel’s economy.

By Zeev Klein, Hezi Sternlicht, Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that Israel will keep 60 percent of the natural gas it harvests from its offshore gas fields for domestic use, setting export levels at 40%. The cabinet will vote on a bill to that effect next week.

Tamar offshore gas field – Photo: Albatross

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Start-Up Nation Institute to connect Israel with innovators worldwide

 

The message from Israel is it can be done.

The other message is do it with Israel.

 

 

Saul Singer, who famously coauthored the book that branded Israel as the “Startup Nation,” is working on a nonprofit organization to connect the country with innovation centers around the world.

SAUL SINGER

SAUL SINGER – Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

“Countries, just like people, are good at different things,” Singer told The Jerusalem Post.

“We’re not good at everything. We have certain strengths. It so happens that the strengths we have tend to match nicely with the weaknesses of other countries, and the strengths of those countries are things that we’re lacking.”

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UN: Israel tortures Palestinian children & uses them as shields

UNICEF accuses IDF of torturing Palestinian children in custody, using  them as informants & human shields.

By Reuters

 

A United Nations human rights body accused Israeli forces on Thursday of mistreating Palestinian children, including by torturing those in custody and using others as human shields.

Palestinian boy in Hebron – Photo: AFP

Palestinian children in the Gaza and the West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, are routinely denied registration of their birth and access to health care, decent schools and clean water, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said.

“Palestinian children arrested by (Israeli) military and police are systematically subject to degrading treatment, and often to acts of torture, are interrogated in Hebrew, a language they did not understand, and sign confessions in Hebrew in order to be released,” it said in a report. Continue Reading »

PM Netanyahu: The Arabs Want it All, All of ‘Palestine’

PM Netanyahu tells Presidential Conference that peace will never be possible until the Arabs agree to recognize the Jewish State.

By Elad Benari

 

Israel wants peace, but it is not willing to sacrifice its security for it, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Thursday evening at the closing session of the Presidential Conference.

 

“For peace to be maintained, we must be strong in the present and in the future. Because a peace accord that compromises our security will not endure, and I will never compromise the security of the State of Israel and its citizens,” said Netanyahu.

“Therefore, when we talk about ‘tomorrow’ I talk about a tomorrow of peace, security and also prosperity.” Continue Reading »

Chinese kids study Israel’s history in great detail in school

With battle diagrams & detailed maps, students in Beijing’s schools are learning about the Israeli wars that shaped the face of history.

By Matan Tzuri

 

Students in Israel are already prepared for the summer break – but on the other side of the world, another group of students is studying the battles of Israel and the changes that came about because of them.

Iluz (third from left, in background)) with the Netanyahus on Great Wall of China

Chinese, the Netanyahus, at Great Wall during May state visit

Eighth grade students in Beijing schools are preparing for their world history exam, and Israeli history plays a large role in what they are being taught, Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Continue Reading »

Turkmenistan Accepts 1st Ever Israeli Ambassador

Mazel Tov!! The Central Asian secular Muslim state of Turkmenistan, which is Iran’s neighbor, has accepted the credentials of their 1st ever Israeli ambassador.

By Rina Tavi

 

The Central Asian state of Turkmenistan, which shares a 1,000 kilometer border with Iran, has accepted the credentials of the first ever Israeli ambassador to the country, state media said Wednesday.

Turkmenistan flag

Turkmenistan flag

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov received the ambassadorial credentials of senior Israeli diplomat Shemi Tzur, the government newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan said, according to the AFP news agency.

The paper said that Tzur presented Berdymukhamedov with a greeting from President Shimon Peres who expressed interest in establishing a full dialogue with the overwhelmingly Muslim but strongly secular desert nation. Continue Reading »

Op-Ed: Examples of U.S. gains from its Israel alliance

Washington will continue to benefit greatly from its alliance with the Jewish state, and by helping to ensure the U.S. maintains its global edge, Israel will continue to contribute to Americans’ lives & livelihoods, & to restoring the global economic competitiveness of the United States.

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